BREAKING: Penn State wrestling officially introduces Nick Lee as new assistant coach

Nittany Lions great Nick Lee is now part of the Penn State wrestling coaching staff. The program made the news official in a statement Monday morning after Cael Sanderson announced the move Friday on the Strong and Grateful podcast. The two-time National Champion rounds out Sanderson’s coaching staff after former assistant Jimmy Kenndey followed David Taylor to Oklahoma State earlier in the month.

Penn State wrestling officially introduces Nick Lee as new assistant coach

After Cael Sanderson broke the news Friday afternoon that one of his former star wrestlers would be joining him matside for the 2024-25 season, Penn State wrestling officially announced Nick Lee as the program’s newest coach Monday morning.  The statement reads, in part:

Lee’s Penn State resume is among the all-time best in the school’s storied wrestling history. He became Penn State’s first five-time All-American in 2022 when he won his second straight individual NCAA National Championship at 141 pounds in Detroit. Lee, who was part of three NCAA team championship squads for Penn State, tallied five podium finishes for Sanderson’s squad. He finished 5^th in 2018, 5^th in 2019, was a first team All-American when 2020’s tournament was cancelled, then won NCAA titles at 141 in 2021 and 2022.

The Evansville, Ind., native went 32-7 as a true freshman with five pins, seven technical falls and 12 majors. He followed that up with a 31-4 sophomore campaign with six pins, five techs and 13 majors. Lee went 20-1 with five falls, seven techs and four majors in 2020 when the NCAA tournament was cancelled. He posted a 13-1 mark with four techs and five majors, winning his first NCAA title in St. Louis in the shortened 2021 season and capped off his elite career with a perfect 22-0 run to a second NCAA crown in 2022, with two pins, four techs and six majors. Lee ended his NCAA career with 118-13 overall record with 18 falls, 27 techs and 40 majors. He was a Big Ten Champion in 2022 and collected 226 dual meet points over the course of a career that saw him post a 55-2 dual meet record.

Nick Lee most recently finished runner-up at 65 kg in the U.S. Olympic Trials, losing to fellow Penn State wrestling great and NLWC teammates Zain Retherford.

Earning a spot on the U.S. National Team, there is no indication that Lee will retire from competition.

Sanderson praises Lee’s “knack for coaching”

Making the announcement on Friday, Cael Sanderson highlighted what he expects Lee to bring to the Penn State wrestling staff.

“He has a knack for coaching. He has a taken a vested interest in helping the people around him get better,” Sanderson said. “I think he’s going to do an outstanding job. He will be a great resource for the bottom five weight classes.

“You try to make sure you have people in all the positions. I’m really excited to work with Nick. We’re going to get him going as soon as we possibly can. He’s the guy. He’s excited about the job. And we’re excited for him to join the staff.”

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